The Best of Egypt and Morocco

Here's the best way to see the best of Egypt and Morocco in 16-Day.
Tour starts daily in Cairo , year round . The flight between Cairo and Casablanca will be direct on Egyptair or Royal Air Maroc, or via Paris on Air France / Royal Air Maroc.
Start in Morocco ?

Stay at the legendary Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo

Explore the two gems of North Africa--Morocco and Egypt--, tour to Casablanca, Marrakech, Cairo Alexandria and Luxor. A bonus: journeys by train across the Moroccan countryside, and up the Nile! Now you tour the highlights of Egypt in only 5 days . You'll start with the throbbing capital of Egypt, and an exploration of the key sites both within the city and nearby. Then it's on to the old-new land of Luxor, the Ancient Capital of the first United Kingdom ( Egypt was originally divided into two kingdoms, that got united by Ahmos I ) thus creating a United Kingdom in the Nile Valley. Compare with Egypt only in the 6 day edition , or Egypt and Morocco in 19 day with a Nile Cruise and couple of nights at a deluxe camp in the Moroccan sahara , the , 14 day edition including the Moroccan Sahara . Add a Nile Cruise in 14 day version . You may wish to consider cruising THE NILE in the comfort of your own PRIVATE boat The Royal Cleopatra . Add Greece

DAY 1 - CAIRO - Start Daily in Cairo - Year Round
Our staff meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel, visa will be issued on a complimentary basis for American, Australian, NZ,EU , Canadian,Korean , Singaporean & Japanese citizens, your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival. If you arrive between 5 and 8 AM , please click here.

Visa will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

DAY 2 - CAIRO- Home Hosted Dinner (cBL)
We start with the best of Cairo: the Egyptian Museum, Manial Palace of the former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali, Citadel of Saladin and its Alabaster Mosque. After lunch , we walk the narrow streets of Old Cairo, once a Roman fort, later the Jewish Quarter, then the Coptic Christian Quarter. We visit the Coptic churches of Abu Serghius and Al Molaka, the Coptic Museum, and Ben Ezra synagogue. Finally, we wander through the alleys of Khan el-Khalili bazaar in search of souvenirs.

Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 3 - CAIRO (cBLD)
In the morning, we visit the majestic pyramids of Giza, the Valley Temple and the timeless Sphinx. Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

After lunch we drive to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit several ancient structures, including the great pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. In the evening, we board our first-class sleeper train. Dinner is served in our private compartments as we speed southward along the banks of the Nile. The sleeper is officially rated 4 stars, we do rate it however as only 3 stars, if you prefer to fly, please click here

DAY 4 - LUXOR (cBL)
We leave our train for breakfast in a luxury hotel, after which we cross the Nile to visit the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch in Luxor, we tour the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and visit the Sacred Lake . We have a quick look at the great temple of Amon Ra at Luxor on our way to the airport for our flight back to Cairo, and our hotel. If you prefer to extend to Aswan ? please click here .

Octavious visiting Alexander the Great's Tomb in Alexandria just after he defeated Cleopatra & Marc Anthony. He left his coat as a token of respect to Alexander the Great. The search continues for Alexander the Great's Tomb.

DAY 5 - Cairo Alexandria Cairo (BL)
Rise early before sunrise, we have a full day ahead of us , if you can afford another day to add in Egypt, then we suggest an overnight in Alexandria, rather than doing this as an over day out of Cairo .

Private car/driver/guide Cairo Alexandria Cairo : Full day tour of the Greco Roman Museum, the Catacombs, the Roman Amphitheater, Qayet Bey Fortress

Qayet Bey Fort was built on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world : the famous Alexandria Light House. A brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk. Lunch at a local restaurant , then its off to the new site for the Alexandria Library

Time permitting we 'll visit the new museum in Alexandria , the building was originally built in 1926 for the US consulate in Alexandria and is a masterpiece in 1920's architecture & Mediterranean style buildings.
Reach Cairo early evening

DAY 6 - Cairo / Casablanca (cBD)
After breakfast, our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight Cairo to Casablanca , non-stop or via Paris depending on the day of the week and availability, air fare is included in economy class Cairo Casablanca .
Your international flight arrives in Casablanca. After completing customs and immigration formalities Our local rep. escorts us to our hotel, where we enjoy a Moroccan-style welcome dinner at the hotel .

DAY 7 - CASABLANCA (B)
Full day at leisure to explore on your own the local souks or maybe the water front.

DAY 8 - Atlantic Coast to EASSAOUIRA (BLD)
Morning tour of the Grand Mosque of Hassan II, before we drive along the Atlantic coast heading south for Eassaouira . Lunch enroute. Late afternoon arrival . With the remainder at leisure to enjoy exploring with guide at hand, this sleepy seaside town. Complimentary dinner is included to welcome you at the hotel, Sofitel Mogador or similar.

 

 

DAY 9 - ESSAOUIRA (B)
 Essaouira is yours , a charming fishing harbor. Renowned for generations for its production of "Murex", a small shellfish used to make the purple dye for Roman togas, Essaouira is now a very active fishing harbor , with some Portuguese character who settled here in the 16th century. Later on Sultan Mohamed Ben Abdellah used it as a base for his corsairs. Today, protected from the sea and the wind behind its commanding fortified medieval walls, Essaouira shelters a flourishing craftsmanship in marquetry, working wood with ebony, mother of pearl and silver thread to make tables, chessboards, caskets and bracelets. Maybe seafood lunch, before heading back to the hotel.

 

 

Treat yourself to a great spa Experience at the new & Sofitel Mogador at Essaouira

 

 

 

 

 

DAY 10 - Marrakech
Our local staff will drive you to Marrakech and your accommodations at a Riad ( Riad Slitine or similar) or a hotel ( based on your choice ) , where a traditional welcoming mint tea and a fruit basket await you. Your personal requirements and relaxation are foremost. This luxurious yet delightful Riads are usually a former palace , mansion, or large residential house restored to 1930s , 1940s grandeur. The Riad classical plan is :
substantial walls and orientation to a central patio with venerable trees provide a haven of peace in the midst of bustling Marrakech. Guests are accommodated in usually only five - ten guest suites, each with sitting area and the finest oriental appointments, fireplace ( subject to the category you choose) ,air conditioning, and European-style dining room ( subject to the category you choose) . Some are with private terraces that provides a secluded window on the active life of romantic and mysterious Marrakech.

 

 

 

DAY 11 - Marrakech (B)
You'll spend today seeing Marrakech, including the Koutoubia, the landmark mosque of the city. Perhaps you'll note its similarity to its sister tower, the Giralda of Seville, in Spain. You'll continue to the Saadian Tombs, and the Bahia palace, built in the nineteenth century, with room after stately oriental room with intricate plaster work and finely detailed columns, and sedate hidden gardens. In the afternoon, you'll discover the old city and always-lively Djemaa El Fna Square, populated by water sellers, magicians, peddlers, politicians, and animal tamers, who carry on an endless flurry of activities straight out of the middle ages. If you have a spare moment, the souks of Marrakech will always keep you entertained.

DAY 12 - Marrakech - Culinary Experience and a home hosted dinner (cBD)

This morning you'll ride through Marrakech in a horse-drawn carriage.
One of the special ways of understanding a culture is through its cuisines--not only sampling exotic tastes, but experiencing the preparation of dishes, how they figure in ritual and ceremony, and how they have grown out of the earth and traditions, we'll proceed to the Ecole Hotelière, Marrakech's own hospitality & Culinary Academy and training school, for a demonstration of the preparation of pastry-style doughs. We'll stay for a lunch of salads, tagine of Maghdour kebab, and refreshing fruits.

Later, we'll call on you to take you for your sunset camel ride, in the 13,000 acres of palm groves around Marrakech. You'll finish the day with a memorable experience of Moroccan hospitality, dinner in the home of a Marrakech family in the old Medina.

Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Marrakech l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 13 - MARRAKECH, CASABLANCA, RABAT, MEKNES, FEZ (BL)
We'll pick you up in the morning and take you to the Marrakech railroad station. Tickets in a first-class compartment and lunch are provided. You'll roll in comfort through stunning mountain scenery to Casablanca. Once you detrain, we'll escort you to visit the Hassan II Great Mosque, a monument to Moroccan artisanry and architecture. Then we'll continue to Rabat, the capital of the kingdom, where we'll stop at the mausoleum of Mohamed V, built in the Spanish-Moorish style, and at the nearby Hassan Tower. We'll continue by way of Meknes to arrive in the evening to Fez, and your accommodations at the Dar Ghalia Riad or similar .
A welcome mint tea and a fruit basket await you. In the heart of the Medina, the old city of Fez, Dar Ghalia is a palace that dates back to the seventeenth century, restored and selectively modernized to provide both traditional surroundings and modern comforts. The architecture of Dar Ghalia has been respected, resulting in a range of accommodations, from double rooms to apartments to suites to a Douiria, or separate guesthouse, with its Hammam, a traditional steam bath. A Moroccan-style breakfast is included, and other meals may be taken in the dining room, or on the terrace, with its superb panorama of the Medina.
Dar Ghalia deluxe suite or similar hotel / riad

DAY 14 - FEZ - Volubilis (BL)
Full day tour of Volubilis , once the capital of the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitania. We'll have lunch en route, and continue to Moulay Idriss, the picturesque shrine village named for the founder of the kingdom, who is interred here. In the evening, you'll attend a Sound and Light show in the Medina of Fez, in which illumination and jets of water along with words help portray the history of the city.

DAY 15 - FEZ (B)
Put on your walking shoes this morning for a trip in time back to the ninth century, as we explore the old city of Fez (guided tour) . Its Medina and its labyrinth of souks have been declared a world cultural treasure. Your afternoon is free for relaxation or shopping or further exploration as you wish. Later, you will savor the benefits of the Hammam, the traditional relaxing and restorative steam bath at Dar Ghalia.

DAY 16- FEZ - Departure (B)
We'll call on you early in the day and escort you to Fez Saiss airport, where you'll board your flight to begin your journey home. If you plan to fly out from Casablanca , then we 'll be glad to arrange for a flight or a private car / driver to bring you from Fez to Casablanca , depending on your flight departure time, additional cost $$$ applies .

Bon Voyage

Hotels :

Marrakech / Morocco :
Deluxe Riad - RIAD KNIZA, or similar : www.riadkniza.com
Deluxe hotel / Riad : JARDINS DE LA KOUTOUBIA, or similar :
www.lesjardinsdelakoutoubia.com

Casablanca / Morocco :
Deluxe : Royal Mansour

In Egypt :
Cairo : Four Seasons Hotel , Mena House Oberoi Pyramids View
Luxor : Old Winter Palace ( subject to availability

RATES per person in USD

International airfare from / to your home country is not included

Rate Includes:

• Hotel / Riad accommodation with tax, as listed .
• Flight, air fare Cairo to Casablanca , non-stop or via Paris depending on the day of the week and availability, air fare is included in economy class with tax , Cairo Casablanca .
• All transfers in Morocco and Egypt as per itinerary .
• Guided sightseeing including all entrance fees as per itinerary.
• Domestic air and sleeper train tickets in Egypt as listed , tax included
• Domestic train ticket in Morocco as listed , tax included
• Pre set meals as listed including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner
• Egypt and Morocco travel guide books.
• Visa fee for Egypt for American, Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian, S. Korean , Singaporean & Japanese citizens, your passport must be valid

Henna party ( For ladies only ) :
One of the "insiders" excursions into Moroccan culture, a chance to attend a henna party, the painting of hands and body r with this natural red dye is a symbol of joy at weddings and regarded as a way to enhance one's beauty , if interested in attending a Henna party , please let's know in advance.

Massage on the Nile

Add a Nile cruise to your stay in Egypt. Indulge yourself as you honeymoon on the Nile, and spoil yourself like Cleopatra . . . at our expense. What could be more relaxing than sailing along the Nile, watching silent feluccas glide by, and timeless villages twinkling at twilight. Slip below to a soothing session with a specialist skilled in the arts of relaxation and massage, before the two of
you retire to your cabin.

Travel in Style is pleased to offer a complimentary 30-minute massage to couples who honeymoon on the Nile. This offer is available on select vessels; such as the Amarco , please inquire when booking. Additional sessions 30-minute sessions are available for $50 Per person